One of the rampant attacks in the Body of Christ currently is the spirit of offense. The enemy knows if he can divide the body with offense, we will no longer be effective. Instead of focusing on revival, we will be focused on ourselves and personal hurt. Strategic alignments and divine relationships would be strained and hindered–dissolving cords of resources, support, and partnership necessary for Kingdom building. We will be so busy bickering within the body until we will never reach the lost…and we will not experience the supernatural power of God flowing in our daily lives.
This strategy is not new. Jesus was also affected by the spirit of offense.
A Prophet Has No Honor in His Own Country…
Jesus himself encountered the spirit of offense in Mark 6:1-6. As he went into his hometown, he began to teach in the synagogues. The people were amazed at his teachings. They marveled at his level of wisdom, revelation, and the miracles that he had been performing. Instead of giving him good publicity and believing in the message, they began to bring Jesus down to their level.
“Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. (Mark 6:3, NIV)
Oftentimes, the spirit of offense travels with other spirits, such as pride, familiarity, and jealousy, as seen in this passage. These spirits rose up in the people and caused them to miss the message and focus on the messenger. They tried to disqualify what he was saying by recounting his lack of qualifications to say it.
His hometown cronies focused on the fact that he was a carpenter instead of a well-educated theologian — according to their standards.
He was an ordinary man, just like them — according to their standards.
“Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.” – Romans 8:32 (NIV)
Who was Jesus to hold them accountable?
Lack of Accountability Breeds Offense
Have you ever noticed that it is easier to be taught or rebuked by someone from afar, like a television preacher, than to be held accountable by someone who walks closely in fellowship with you? Isn’t it interesting how you can receive a word of rebuke by a traveling prophet, but it’s hard to receive that same word from your local minister or pastor? Although we desire growth and change, the silent truth is being held accountable is tough, and sometimes a challenging word rubs us the wrong way.
The spirit of offense often rises up when we are held accountable by those we are walking in fellowship with because, like Jesus’ neighbors, we get too familiar with them. Jesus was teaching with power and authority, but the Word could not produce conviction, repentance, and change. Pride, familiarity, and jealousy filtered the teaching, ultimately resulting in the townspeople becoming offended.
In this passage, we also see why the spirit of offense is so dangerous to Believers. Offense resulted in the people being unable to receive healing & miracles…and ultimately wholeness. The spirit of offense serves as a barrier to limit faith and the flow of the Holy Spirit. So, the townspeople stayed in their same state or condition because they were offended by the messenger.
Unmet Expectations and Selfish Vantage Points
The spirit of offense can also walk in through the door of unmet expectations. We can become offended when someone has not reacted/ behaved in a manner or completed an action in a manner than we expected. For example, if you were expecting a word of encouragement, but received a word of rebuke with love instead, you may become offended.
Once an expected outcome or desired result is unmet, a person can choose understanding or offense. Offense brings a critical lens through which others are viewed, while understanding steps out of self and sees the situation from the other person’s vantage point. Usually, an offended person creates unrealistic and misplaced expectations on others, expecting them to meet their needs rather than God. Disappointment results because in our own selfish spiral, we fail to realize that the other person was unaware, unable, or unwilling to conform to our expectation.
“My soul, wait thou only upon God: for my expectation is from Him.” – Psalm 62:5 (KJV)
The people in Jesus’ hometown were offended by Him because they had an expectation that was not met. They were expecting the Messiah, a king, royalty, a savior that would rescue them…and they got Mary’s son, the carpenter? He looked like them, grew up with them…how could He help them?
While we are waiting on others to meet or fill a need, God may be sending someone else. While the people of Nazareth were waiting on an image they had created, they missed the blessing of the Messiah.
Offense is like a fence, dividing our relationship with God and man. Who do you need to forgive and remove from the fence of offense? In this new season, let’s not miss the glory and blessings of the Lord because we are harboring the spirit of offense!